BLANTYRE, Malawi – Malawi held a somber funeral for Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima on Monday under heavy security, following a weekend of protests in his home district. The protests erupted over what residents perceived as a delayed response from the government to the plane crash that claimed Chilima’s life and eight others last week.
Chilima, 51, was laid to rest in his home village of Nsipe, located roughly 160 kilometers southeast of the capital, Lilongwe. On Sunday evening, tensions flared as crowds gathered along the route of the funeral cortege. These individuals, reportedly frustrated with the government’s handling of the search and rescue efforts after the plane’s disappearance, blocked the road and threw stones at vehicles. The situation turned tragic when a car lost control and veered into the crowd, killing four people and injuring over a dozen more, according to police reports.
President Lazarus Chakwera, who has ordered an independent investigation into both the plane crash and the government’s response, attended the funeral but did not deliver a speech. Religious and political leaders urged for calm during the ceremony.
“Let us honor the Vice President’s legacy by maintaining peace and composure, values he consistently championed,” said Archbishop Thomas Msusa of the Blantyre Archdiocese, who officiated at the service.
Chilima served as leader of the United Transformation Movement party. He joined forces with President Chakwera to form the winning Tonse Alliance ticket in the 2020 presidential election, serving as his running mate. However, relations between the two had reportedly become strained in recent times, with Chilima expected to challenge Chakwera for the presidency in the upcoming 2025 elections.
Chilima faced corruption charges in 2022, but the case was dismissed last month by the Director of Public Prosecutions. He consistently maintained his innocence.
